Renal pelivic pacemaker arrhythmias induced by pentothal anesthesia.

The influence of Pentothal anesthesia in blocking the mechanism intimating ureteral peristalsis in the dog is examined. Pressure measurements of pacemaker rhythmicity were made through renal cortical catheterization of the renal pelvis. Simultaneously, ureteral recordings were made by extracellular electromyography of the ureteral smooth muscle wall. It is shown that Pentothal anesthesia transiently blocks the spontaneous and rhythmic contractions of the renal pelvis and inhibits the generation of ureteral peristaltic contractions. It is demonstrated that repeated or prolonged pacemaker blockade results in an open ureteropelvic junction and aperistalsis. A discussion of the possible implication of these observations is given.